Absolutely stunning. For all money you thought England had pulled off one of their most famous victories in a quite magnificent Six Nations match against France, having come from 16-3 down to lead 24-19 with only the contest’s dying embers remaining.

But then France worked a try for replacement Gael Fickou, converted by Maxime Machenaud, that mocked England’s resilience.

It was heartbreaking for them. There had been so much that had been good about their performance that they did really appear the better side.

There were two rather fortunate tries for France in the first half, but England really should have been able to close the game out.

You wondered about some of the substitutions. Danny Care had been all devil and threat at scrum-half, creating one try and dropping a goal, yet he was off after an hour.

Tom Youngs also came on at hooker and England lost a crucial attacking line-out.

That said, Billy Vunipola was simply world class at No 8, Courtney Lawes and Joe Launchbury were imperious as a lock pairing and Owen Farrell had one of his finest Test matches.

Of the debutants centre Luther Burrell scored, while Jack Nowell had his problems but definitely has something.

But. England still lost. Their scrummage struggled, and amidst their invention, with some clever off-loading, was a high error count. They coughed up far too much ball.

For France Louis Picamoles was a mountain, Bernard Le Roux made a huge amount of tackles, Yannick Nyanga often showed his class, and they had pace and finishing class outside, where Yoann Huget scored two tries.

France had begun in heaven, scoring after just 33 seconds.

Poor young Nowell dropped the kick off and France moved the ball right.

Fly-half Jules Plisson tried to kick through, but it did not go where he intended, ricocheting off Billy Twelvetrees’ leg.

As ever, that caused indecision in the defence and Mike Brown dithered just long enough for Huget to take the ball, even if it did bobble off his body at first.

He was clear and France were in front, although Jean-Marc Doussain missed the conversion.

England responded with vigour, with Vunipola and Jonny May to the fore, and a penalty resulted. Farrell made no mistake.

Sadly, though, May was injured, breaking his nose, and made an early exit. Alex Goode appeared at full-back, with Brown shifting to left wing.

Doussain kicked a penalty to make it 8-3. And France soon scored their second try.

Tom Wood lost the ball in contact and France went right, where Huget skinned Goode on the outside.

Goode did eventually manage to take hold of Huget, but he had made ground and his hands were free to pass inside to Brice Dulin.

The full-back kicked ahead and the bounce was cruel but neither Goode nor Nowell could lay a hand on the ball.

Huget was following up eagerly, and gleefully took the ball for his second score.

It was 13-3, and that soon became 16-3 when Doussain added another penalty.

But not before there had been an almighty scrap after a Wood tackle on Plisson.

It did not look good, but the truth was that Plisson slipped, and that most excellent of referees, Nigel Owens, dealt with the matter calmly and sensibly.

Now England simply had to score if they were to stay in the game. And they had Care to thank for doing so.

Awarded a penalty in front of the posts that would have to be kicked at most times in most Tests, Care recognised the desperation of the situation and set off with a quick tap.

He made ground, and when he was tackled, Dylan Hartley acted as an emergency scrum-half. His pass was poor, hitting ground before it found a team-mate.

But it actually worked well, and the ball found Vunipola in space on the right.

He fed Brown, but there was still work to do. He stepped inside Huget, but there were still the attentions of Alexandre Flanquart, Pascal Pape and Doussain with which to deal.

Brown did superbly to finish for his first Test try.

Farrell missed the touch-line conversion, and was also wide with a dropped-goal attempt as England finished the half with a strong attack.

But it was still France who led 16-8.

England made a stunning start to the second half. Farrell set Brown free down the left with a delightful pass, and then there were ferocious carries from Vunipola and Lawes, as well as some slick hands from Twelvetrees.

Care lunged for the line, but was just short. But England had been awarded a penalty anyway, and Farrell landed it to make it 16-11.

And then. Burrell suddenly scored, after the indefatigable Vunipola had made the bust up the middle. He slipped the pass and Burrell was clear. Farrell added the conversion and England were ahead by 18-16.

It was end-to-end stuff now. Wesley Fofana escaped down the right and was prevented from scoring only by a stupendous tackle from Twelvetrees.

Then Vunipola made one of the hits of the season on Nyanga. And if that wasn’t enough for that passage of play, Care charged down in his own half and was very nearly clear when he knocked on well inside France’s half.

Next Care picked something else from his party bag. England pressure had resulted in another penalty advantage, so Care knew that he had a shot to nothing in front of the posts with a drop kick.

It was scruffy-looking but it had just enough elevation. England were now 21-16 up.

But then came the mistakes. That overthrow by Youngs, and a poor scrummage that led to a penalty, Doussain making it 19-21.

Farrell had cramp, and so Goode took over the kicking duties to make it 24-19.